Abf Freight System

Fort Collins, Colo., Resident is State Truck Driving Champion

CHEYENNE, Wyo., Aug. 8, 2011 -- Eight Drivers Continue on to National Competition This Week

CHEYENNE, Wyo., Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lawrence Eaton, of Fort Collins, Colo., was named the best professional truck driver in Wyoming after winning the twins competition and receiving the highest overall score in the eight competing categories at the 2011 Wyoming Truck Driving Championships. The annual event is sponsored by Wyoming Trucking Association.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100129/ATALOGO )

Eaton, who drives for Con-way Freight, now qualifies to compete in the American Trucking Associations' National Truck Driving Championships August 9-13, 2011, in Orlando, Fla. — also known as the "Super Bowl of Safety." The winners from each of the seven other categories are also eligible to compete in the national championship.  

Nearly 400 drivers from all 50 states will compete in Orlando for four days, challenging their driving skills, and knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. From 18-wheeler, five-axle sleepers to tank trucks to twin trailers—they will drive a course that recreates situations truck drivers face daily. These maneuvers may include: an alley dock, a rear line stop, a side park, a scale stop, a right turn, a front line stop, and straight line driving through a diminishing clearance.

On Saturday night, August 13, one contestant will drive away as the 2011 National Grand Champion Truck Driver.

"The Truck Driving Championships represent the culmination of the industry's passion and dedication to safety," said Wyoming Trucking Association Managing Director Sheila Foertsch. "I congratulate all the contestants and I hope Wyoming roots for our drivers as they move on to Nationals in Orlando."

Wyoming participants at Nationals for each category include: Andrew Kelly, ABF Freight System, Cheyenne, Wyo. (Twins) Andrew Walston, ABF Freight System, Wallington, Colo. (Flatbed) Terry Scott, Con-way Freight, Windsor, Colo., (Four-Axle) Warren Terrell, Wal-Mart Transportation, Torrington, Wyo. (Five-Axle) Robert Forster, Groendyke Transport, Riverton, Wyo. (Tankers) Eric Carpenter, Wal-Mart Transportation, Laramie, Wyo. (Five-Axle Sleeper) Thomas Martin, ABF Freight System, Cheyenne, Wyo. (Three-Axle) Lynda Schatz, Admiral Transport Corp. Worland, Wyo. (Straight Truck)

ATA's Truck Driving Championships include top professional truck drivers from around the nation competing at state and regional levels to make it to the national competition Aug. 9-13 in Orlando, Fla.  The NTDC annually attracts over 2,000 cheering friends, family, colleagues and spectators. For more information, visit the 2011 National Truck Driving Championships website: http://www.truckline.com/Federation/Councils/slpmc/NTDC/Pages/Default.

Shippers warned to brace for LTL rate hikes – DC Velocity - Supply ...

Several of the nation's top less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers, fresh from announcing rate increases of nearly 7 percent on their non-contract traffic, are prepared to impose another round of rate hikes in February 2012, according to a top executive at a firm that advises shippers on spend management issues.

John Haber, executive vice president of transportation for Atlanta-based NPI, said he's been told by reliable sources at several LTL carriers to expect another round of general rate increases in February. That would be about six months after the most recent cycle of increases, most of which went into effect at the beginning of August. The one exception is FedEx Freight, the LTL unit of FedEx Corp. and the nation's largest LTL carrier, which today announced a 6.75-percent rate increase, effective Sept. 6.

Haber, whose firm represents about 300 shippers of varying sizes, said he's been told that the 2012 increases would likely fall in the 5- to 6-percent range, less than the 6.9-percent rate increases announced by UPS Freight, ABF Freight System Inc., YRC Worldwide Inc., and Con-way Freight or the 6.75-percent increase from FedEx Freight.

YRC CEO James L. Welch, in an Aug. 5 interview , declined comment on any future rate increases. Representatives for UPS Freight and ABF denied that such a rate increase was in the offing. A spokesman for Con-way declined comment.

From late 2006 through 2009, LTL carriers were buffeted by a freight recession exacerbated by a broad economic downturn that followed the financial crisis that began in September 2008. During that time, the industry was also embroiled in a persistent rate war that compressed carriers' profit margins.Many believe that the strategy of rate reduction was a concerted effort to drive YRC financially distressed, then the market leader, into bankruptcy.

YRC has survived, however, and since the beginning of 2010, carriers have backed down, increasing freight rates and cutting marginal prices in an effort to increase revenue per pound or yields and improve profitability. Since January 2010, for example, UPS Freight, LTL unit UPS Inc., has imposed three general rate increases. UPS Freight was the first airline to announce a rate hike this time.

Haber said LTL shippers can look for alternative solutions, but with the major carriers falling in lockstep—or poised to—they may have little room to maneuver. He said experienced shippers with significant volumes might be able to bargain the carriers down to a 3- to 5-percent increase, but likely no lower.

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